Recent Articles in Science & Nature Scripts, Readability Grades 3-5

Dusty and the Junior Iditarod (R = 4.3)
Sep 7, 2015

Woo-hoo!  A Script Buffet Club member requested a Readers Theater script related to the exciting Iditarod sled dog race. Here's the first in a series of scripts on this famous sled-dog race in Alaska.  Based on the non-fiction children's book Iditarod Dream–Dusty and His Sled Dogs Compete in Alaska's Junior Iditarod, this true Readers Theater script brings a sled-dog adventure to life.  With reflections from history and the sled dog heroes "Dusty and the Junior Iditarod" escorts the reader into a two-day adventure tracing part of the original Iditarod Trail with Dusty.  Complete with annotated curriculum links for easy lesson plans, you'll find many ideas for integrating subjects.  Perfect for upper elementary or middle school students, this is the original script adaptation.  (We now have a simplified version and a more difficult version.)

 TIME:  12 min.        CAST:  2-7          TONE: educational, exciting, humorous sprinkles     READABILITY:  grade 4.3

The Ants and the Tortilla (R = 4.7, 2.2)
Jun 9, 2015

Character-building fun from a Mexican fable?  Why not?  "The Ants and the Tortilla" Readers Theater script is roughly adapted from a Mexican fable and the children's book The Little Red Ant and the Great Big Crumb.  This Readers Theater script works well for cross-curricular lessons or unit studies on ants, insects, Mexico, fables, and even Hispanic culture or literature.  Complete with annotated curriculum links for easy lesson plans, "The Ants and the Tortilla" is perfect for elementary students in grades 2, 3, 4, or 5,  ELL or ESL students, special ed, and struggling readers.  This script also comes in a simplified version with a readability of grade 1.3 as well as an advanced version, grade 5.6.  WARNING:  May cause giggles.

TIME:  about 6 1/2 min     CAST:  3-10+       TONE:  serious and light       READABILITY:  grade 4.7  (grade 2.2 substituting "Nar" for Narrator, "Jem" for Jemima, and Jer for Jeremy)

How the Digestive System Serves You (R = 5.7)
Mar 16, 2015

Educational.  Flexible.  Full-class or less.  "How the Digestive System Serves You" promotes good health by exploring the digestive system.  This educational script includes a chorus so any number of students may participate.  Complete with annotated curriculum links for easy lesson plans, "How the Digestive System Serves You" includes 24 reader parts rich in vocabulary.  This non-fiction Readers Theater is part of our collection of scripts on the digestive system.  Use it with a unit study on the digestive system and add the other scripts for small groups to practice.  Perfect for upper elementary grades 4, 5, 6 and advanced ELL students, "How the Digestive System Serves You" integrates cross-curricular learning in science or health studies on the human body.  Since this Readers Theater script reads like the script of a documentary—with choral interruptions—encourage your students to use their special newscaster voices for more fun.

TIME:  about 7 minutes         CAST:  2-24+, CHORUS         TONE:  educational        READABILITY:  grade 5.7

Digestive System Olympics (R = 3.9 & 4.7)
Mar 10, 2015

What happens when the Digestive System Olympic trials and competition announcers interview and track Laydle McSwaydle?  Through the wonders of technology Laydle's body talks.  "Digestive System Olympics" Readers Theater script includes "Digestive System Commercials (1 & 2)" as part of the script.  (Another version without commercials is available for the commercials to be rehearsed separately.)  "Digestive System Olympics" is only one of our collection of scripts on the digestive system of the human body.  Rich in vocabulary and complete with annotated currciulum links for easy lesson plans,  "Digestive System Olympics" is perfect for unit studies on the digestive system for grades 3, 4, 5.  

TIME:  13+ minutes (including commercials)    CAST:  5-12       TONE: educational, entertaining     READABILITY:  grade 3.9 WITH commercials, grade 4.7 WITHOUT commercials

Digestive System Commercials (1 & 2) (R = 2.1)
Mar 3, 2015

A talking stomach?  Why not?  These two commercials are from our script "Digestive System Olympics," but may be used separately in a study of nutrition or the digestive system.  Both commercials are short, easy, and entertaining.  Complete with annotated curriculum links for easy lesson plans our "Digestive System Commercials (1 & 2)" could inspire your students to create their own commercials for a body system.  Perfect for students in grades 2, 3, 4, and 5, these easy commercials could also be used with ELL or ESL students.  Middle school students could present them as part of a bigger program on health to a younger class.  (Note:  "Digestive System Olympics" has a readability level of grade 4.7 WITHOUT these two commercials.)

TIME:  about 2 minutes each      CAST:  4-5 each       TONE:  light, yet serious      READABILITY:  grade 2.1

Digest It! (R = 1.9)
Feb 28, 2015

Ingest, Ingestion.  Digest, Digestion.  Secrete, Secretion.  Although "Digest It!" fits on one page, the script is rich with vocabulary on the digestive process.  Use "Digest It!" to complement another of our digestive system scripts that focuses more on body parts.  "Digest It!" focuses on the process of digestion in a memorable way.  Complete with annotated curriculum links for easy lesson plans, this script comes in two readability levels:  grade 1.9 or 1.4.  (For an easier script check out our simplified version of "Digest It!" with a readability of grade 0.0–think K-2nd.)  Perfect for primary students grades 1, 2, or 3, "Digest It!" is also appropriate for ELL and ESL students.

TIME:  less than 1 minute  CAST:  6,plus an optional chorus or 6 CHORAL groups    TONE:  light and serious   READABILITY:  grade 1.9 OR 1.4 (shortened titles of readers)

Digestion Synopsis (R = 7.2)
Feb 27, 2015

Gifted elementary or middle school students?  "Digestive Synopsis" is rich in vocabulary with a poetic flavor.  Short, concise, and serious, "Digestive Synopsis" comes with annotated curriculum links for easy lesson plans.  Use it as part of a unit study on the digestive system or a quick, non-fiction filler.  Perfect for advanced ELL students, this Readers Theater script is also useful for grades 5, 6, 7, 8, and high school students.

TIME:  a little over 1 minute        CAST:  6 or 6 CHORAL groups      TONE:  serious       READABILITY:  grade 7.2

Whale Phone Commercial (R = 4.1)
Dec 2, 2014

Persuasive vs. Informative?  How do YOU teach it?  "Whale Phone Commercial," provides an opportunity to teach persuasive writing and speaking via Readers Theater.  Plus, your students can learn a little about the power of advertising.  "Whale Phone Commercial" was created as an "insert" into our non-fiction nature script, "Strange, But True:  NoC–The Beluga Who Tried to Talk" (3 readability levels of this script).  The amazing story of NoC is told through a panel of guests interviewed on a television or radio talk show.  Slipping a commercial into the talk show provides another opportunity for learning.  (Your students could write their own commercials.)  Complete with annotated curriculum links for easy lesson plans, "Whale Phone Commercial" comes with links on "Advertising, Commercials, & Persuasive vs. Informative."  Although this is a stand-alone Readers Theater script, it makes a LOT more sense when used with our member-requested script, "Strange, But True:  NoC–The Beluga Who Tried to Talk."  Perfect for grades 3, 4, 5, 6, "Whale Phone Commercial" may inspire YOUR students to write commercials for creative products.  :)

TIME:  a little over 2 minutes        CAST:  6        TONE:  light          READABILITY:  grade 4.1

Strange, But True: NoC (R=3.8)
Nov 30, 2014

Can whales talk?  One would think not.  Yet, "Strange, But True:  NoC–the Beluga Who Tried to Talk (Simplified)" non-fiction Readers Theater tells a strange tale of a whale who seemed to attempt to bridge the communication gap.  Based on an article from Smithsonian Magazine, "Strange, But True:  NoC–the Beluga Who Tried to Talk" presents a panel of experts who knew NoC ("no-see"), plus a professor.  Perfect for unit studies on whales, the ocean, communication, or mammals, this non-fiction Readers Theater will catapult your elementary students into a world of cetaceans, torpedoes, and communication.  Complete with annotated curriculum links for easy lesson plans, "Strange, But True:  NoC–the Beluga Who Tried to Talk" is the simplified original of this educational script.  (The advanced version has a readability of grade 6.1 and the original version has a readability of grade 5.1.)  Yes, there's a link to NoC's recording, too!  :)  And, yes, a Script Buffet Club member requested a custom script on whales, so the belugas won!  :)

TIME: about 11 minutes    CAST:  6     TONE:  educational    READABILITY:  grade 3.8

Strange, But True: NoC (R=5.1)
Nov 30, 2014

Can whales talk?  One would think not.  Yet, "Strange, But True:  NoC–the Beluga Who Tried to Talk" non-fiction Readers Theater tells a strange tale of a whale who seemed to attempt to bridge the communication gap.  Based on an article from Smithsonian Magazine, "Strange, But True:  NoC–the Beluga Who Tried to Talk" presents a panel of experts who knew NoC ("no-see"), plus a professor.  Perfect for unit studies on whales, the ocean, communication, or mammals, this non-fiction Readers Theater will catapult your elementary students into a world of cetaceans, torpedoes, and communication.  Complete with annotated curriculum links for easy lesson plans, "Strange, But True:  NoC–the Beluga Who Tried to Talk" is our original version of this educational script.  (The advanced version has a readability of grade 6.1 and the simplified version has a readability of grade 3.8)  Yes, there's a link to NoC's recording, too!  :)  And, yes, a Script Buffet Club member requested a custom script on whales, so the belugas won!  :)

TIME: about 11 minutes    CAST:  6     TONE:  educational    READABILITY:  grade 5.1

Strange, But True: NoC (R=6.0)
Nov 24, 2014

Can whales talk?  One would think not.  Yet, "Strange, But True:  NoC–the Beluga Who Tried to Talk (Advanced)" non-fiction Readers Theater tells a strange tale of a whale who seemed to attempt to bridge the communication gap.  Based on an article from Smithsonian Magazine, "Strange, But True:  NoC–the Beluga Who Tried to Talk (Advanced)" presents a panel of experts who knew NoC ("no-see"), plus a professor.  Perfect for unit studies on whales, the ocean, communication, or mammals, this non-fiction Readers Theater will catapult your middle school  or gifted students into a world of cetaceans, torpedoes, and communication.  Complete with annotated curriculum links for easy lesson plans, "Strange, But True:  NoC–the Beluga Who Tried to Talk (Advanced)" is our most difficult version of this educational script.  Yes, there's a link to NoC's recording, too!  :)   And, yes, a Script Buffet Club member requested a custom script on whales, so the belugas won!  :)

TIME: about 11 minutes    CAST:  6     TONE:  educational    READABILITY:  grade 6.0

Fiddlewings the Cricket Sings (Advanced) (R = 5.7)
Sep 18, 2014

Here's a fun twist on a Guatemalan folktale requested by a Script Buffet Club member. "Fiddlewings the Cricket Sings" shares a character-building story in a light-hearted way.  Complete with annotated curriculum links for easy lesson plans, "Fiddlewings the Cricket Sings" includes three choral parts for whole class participation, if desired.  Perfect for third or fourth grade readers, this script is also available in a simplified and original version for lower grades.

TIME:  almost 6 min. (6 pages)    CAST:  4-9+ (choruses)     TONE:  light, positive     READABILITY:  grade 5.7